Portugal
Wine: A (Brief!) Overview
The least expensive
flight to Lisbon on TripAdvisor is currently $774! For FAR less money, you will be able to
approximate that experience at our next tasting. The National Tasting Project this year
features the Wines of Portugal. As
usual, your Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Wine Society is here to help!
Most of us will
recognize Port as one of the country’s most famous wines, but that’s only
one of many wines produced in Portugal. Madeira is a beautiful Portuguese
Atlantic island and has a great fortified wine. Historians say that this wine
was the one used by the delegates of the Continental Congress to toast while
signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776!
Types
of Portuguese Wine
THE REDS
Alfrocheiro: Used more in Alentejo and Dão, this grape adapts quite well
throughout the country’s climate and is becoming more and more popular.
Alfrocheiro wines are characterized by aromas of red fruits and floral hints. They
are very balanced when it comes to tannins, alcohol and acidity levels.
Alicante Bouschet: Originally a French grape variety, this
grape is characterized by its intense color. Its resistance to warm weather is
the reason why it is being used in Alentejo region.
Tinta Barroca: Mostly used in Douro region, it’s resistance to plagues and
infection makes it popular, as it requires less attention. It produces soft and
easy-drinking wines with higher alcoholic content.
Tinta Roriz (Aragonez): This grape has a higher sensitivity to
rain. It offers good potential for aging and its wines are normally
characterized by its strong tannins and hints of red fruits like plumbs and
cherries.
Tinto Cão: One of the main five grape varieties used in the Douro
region. Strong, solid tannins and high acidity levels offer the producer a good
potential for ageing.
Touriga Franca: This one gains its recognition mainly in
Douro wines (DOC and Ports). Its average yield produces high quality wines
with intense aromas and strong, solid tannins, but smooth in taste.
Touriga Nacional: It’s the grape variety present in some of
the best wines the country has to offer. Originally giving us the best Dão
wines, it is in Douro and Alentejo where it’s used in more varietal
productions. This grape produces very aromatic wines. It also offers soft and
smooth tannins and a good ageing potential.
THE WHITES
Alvarinho: Its main regions are the Minho River Valley and the Spanish
Rias Baixas. It’s characterized by its strong acidity levels and strong citric
aromas.
Antão Vaz: Considered by some to be the main white grape variety in
Alentejo. Highly resistant to dry and warm climates. It presents intense citric
and mineral aromas with a firm acidity level.
Arinto: Also known as Pedernã. It can be found in young wines and
its light acidity and citric aromas make it a good choice on warm days.
Loureiro: Easily and most successfully found in the Vinho Verde
region. (Despite the literal translation, please don’t refer to it as “Green
Wine” as locals will not understand what you are talking about!) It produces intense
aromas, citric and floral hints.
Viosinho: From Douro and Tras-os-Montes, this grape variety is also
used as a blending variety in Port.
FORTIFIED
WINES
In these types of wines
we have a common characteristic: alcohol is added before the fermentation
process ends, interrupting the sugar transformation into alcohol.
Port Wine: Port is produced out of red and white grape varieties and it
can be divided into two types of ageing.
Tawny: Aged in barrel by oxidation. Tawnies are further divided
into categories: Tawny Reserve, Tawny with age indication and Colheita .
Ruby: Wine protected from oxidation. Rubies are divided into
categories: Vintage Character, Late Bottle Vintage and Vintage (the
latter also being known as the King of Ports).
SPARKLING
WINES
Portugal produces white,
red and rose sparkling wines. You can find decent sparkling wines
throughout the country but it’s in Douro, Távora-Varosa and Bairrada where you
can find the best examples.
Check the blog soon for
updates, times, dates and news!
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